Bowling pin setting mechanism



W. L. WELLS BOWLING PIN SETTING MECHANISM March 16, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 18, 1947 Q A ww Q\ Q Q;

q) INVENTOR B WILLIS L. WELLS.

M46 May ATTORNEY NOE March 16, 1954 w. L. WELLS BOWLING PIN SETTING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 18, 1947 INVENTOR I WILLIS LQWELLS. B

A'ITORNEY mdE March 16, 1954 w. WELLS BOWLING PIN SETTING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 18, 1947 INVENTOR wn us L. WELLS. B

ATTORNEY a m P March 16, 1954 w, WELLS 2,672,340

BOWLING PIN SETTING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 18, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 .INVENTOR WILLIS L. WELLS ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 16, 1954 OFFICE BOWLING PIN SETTING MECHANISM Willis L. Wells, St. Louis, Mo., assignor, by mesne assignments, to American Machine and Foundry Com pany, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New Jersey Application December 18, 1947, Serial No. 792,365

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to bowling pin setting machines and more particularly to improvements in mechanism for setting and resetting pins upon the playing bed of an alley.

In the game of bowling, it often happens that after a ball is thrown, pins are either knocked offspot or walk off the spots upon which they were originally positioned on an alley prior to the rolling of the ball.

Since the rules of the American Bowling Congress state that pins should occupy the position to which they move or are moved as the result of the throwing of a ball, a problem is present in the case of an automatic bowling pin spotting machine of insuring that any standing pin or pins are properly located in substantially the same on or off-spot position each occupied before the next ball of a particular frame is rolled.

The problem of positioning pins correctly in on or off-spot arrangement is solved by the mechanism constituting my invention. This is because I have provided means which grip and securely hold bowling pins regardless of whether or not they occupy on-spot position on the playing bed of a bowling alley. Therefore, after a first ball of a frame has been rolled, if any pins remain standing, such pins are gripped by my improved spotting and respotting mechanism, lifted clear of the bowling alley in order that deadwood may be swept therefrom and returned to proper on or off-spot position pending rolling of the next ball of the frame. The range of operation of the pin gripping units which form an important part of the invention is such that each unit is operative over a greater one than has heretofore been possible.

My invention is also designed for simplified operation in spotting and respotting pins on the playing bed of an alley. The desired simplification is effected by utilizing the same mechanism for both setting and resetting pins. That is, the spotting and respotting table is provided with pin holding elements, which when the table is moved into a pin receiving position adjacent a pin magazine, are operated to grip ten triangularly positioned pins in the pin magazine. The table is then moved clear of the magazine effecting a withdrawal of ten gripped pins therefrom after which it is moved into pin delivering position adjacent the bed of the alley where the pins are released from the holders and remain in spotted position, triangularly arranged on the bed of the alley when the table is moved upwardly to its inoperative position above the alley. Following the throwing of the first ball of a frame, if any pins remain standing, the table is moved downwardly, the pin holders are operated to grip on or off-spot pins, whereupon the table moves upwardly and dwells above the alley bed. The alley is then cleared of deadwood or fallen pins. The table then returns to pin respotting position adjacent the alley. Pins to be respotted are released by the pin holding elements and returned to their on or off-spot positions on the alley. The table then returns to inoperative position above the alley.

Bowling pins may vary somewhat in height because during the life of the pin, in order to extend the life, it is necessary to dress worn pins. The dressing operation may require the removal of a portion of the pin at the base which means that a pin dressed in this manner may not be as tall as other pins in play. In order to insure that pins to be spotted on the alley are lifted and respotted thereon and properly held at all times, the improved spotting-respotting table forming this invention is provided with a pin handle clamping surface located above the plane of operation of the gripping elements. This clamping surface preferably is a relatively thick resilient flexible material, such for instance as sponge rubber or fibrous material which after being compressed returns to its normal thickness when released from compression. In this manner the combined operation of the clamping surface and the gripping elements insures the proper handling of pins being spotted and respotted.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved spotting-respotting device having sets of pin gripping elements which are operative to grip and remove pins from a magazine for spotting, and also for respotting in on or ofif-spot positions on the playing bed of a bowling alley.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a spotting-respotting table having triangularly arranged sets of gripping arms, each of which sets of arms is effective to firmly hold a bowling pin, which table is operative to move with pins held in the gripping arms from a source of supply for spotting pins on the playing bed of a bowling alley and also to respot pins on the playing bed.

My invention also consists in the provision of a novel spotting and respotting table having a resilient pin clamping surface which in conjunction with triangularly arranged pin gripping units maintains bowling pins in proper triangular arrangement for spotting on the playing bed of a bowling alley.

the playing bed of a bowling alley, which table" purpose of setting and resetting bowling pins on the playingbed can be employed for the dual of the alley.

With these and other objectsnot specifically. mentioned in view, the invention consistsin certain combinations and constructions which will.

be hereinafter fully described, and then set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings which-.il-lus trate a preferred embodiment of the invention and-formapartof-this specificatiomand in which liketcharacters ofreference indicate :the' same .or; like parts:

Figure l isra perspective view of-my improved bowling;p in spotting and respottingtable disclosing. the pin gripping mechanism in. operative arrangement;

Figure- 2 is. a topplan view ofthe spottingrespotting table shown in Figure l,- with parts broken away to illustrate inoperative positionsof the pin gripping arms beneath the table;

Figure .3 isaside elevation of the. improved spotting and; respotting table taken on line 3--3- of Figure 2- disclosing theeoperative relationship.

between the table, the pin magazine and-the bed .of the bowlingalley upon which pins are spotted and respotted;

Figure i'shows thetable'lifting and turning mechanism;

Figurefi shows the gripping armsin their respective inoperative and operative positions;

Figure 6118-2. sectional isometric view. of a. single torque: springclutch used. in operatingv andcontrolling the operation of each gripperarm; and.- Figure? is a wiring diagram showingasuitable controlwcircuit;

Referring, to.- the; drawings which illustrate.- a preferred which-,can-be used for spotting and res otting pins asydesiredi Device 18 is particularly usef-ul in an automatic bowling pin setting machine-of theztypeashown and-described in my co-pending application serial No..16 ,725, filedvMarch- 24, 19,48; for Bowling ,Pinzsetting Machine.

alley-22. WhileI have. referred to aparticular type of bowlingypinsettingmachine, in which my improved spotting-and/ or respotting mechanism -is readily adaptable for use, .it is tobe understoodthatw it canbeused. in connection with any type ofautomatic machine, especially: a" machine utilizing the same. unit for spotting.

oftthe'table l8; there are provided tenasetsof pinrgripping armsiziii, each attached to a shaft l leprojecting downwardiy from. thetop, portionof table 18 through an opening. l in a crossembodiment of the invention-,- reference character 18; indicates generally my; improved bowlingnpin, spottingand/or: respotting: device When employed in the machine referred to, device l3 performs the'dual function of spotting and re@ spotting pins; on the. playing bed of axbowling resilient or readily compressible material which after being compressed readily returns to its original thickness when released from compression; Fornthisvreasonit is preferred to use sponge rubber, felt,- compressible fabric or other suitable materiali.

The several sets-of arms H] are mounted on the undersidesof table. .18 in generally triangular arrangement' corresponding to the customary spottedi positions of bowling pins on the playing bed of a bowling alley. As illustrated somewhat diagrammatically I in r Figure 5 each gripper:- set includes four oppose-dnpinholding 01': gripping, arms Ii]. secured to vertically suspended:shafts 14. The arms are-sox-mountedand arrangedithat. they-form the general arrangement of arecta-ngle within which is located'a. bowlingzpin 12. The.-

fourarms are so. mounted that two opposedarmsill mounted on. diagonally.oppositeshafts fl cor operate as a pair and grip opposite sides=of-thes handle of a-pin.- As-illustratedimFigure B ythe arms Iii-of each set of armsanormallysoccupy; full line positions. disclosed. in-Figurea5-.-.- Ifwpins.

are on-spot when the'armsare. moved .-to-ropera-- tive or gripping position,. they assume the-.posi-.-- tions shown in Figure din dottedi lines The length and positionstof the. several-arms iil forming-- eachgripper set-are: such that. a

greater area-of the playing declc. of. the alleycan be covered bythe armsiformingetheienitrh angular-1y positioned setsof arms 10; This is de-- sirablebecause during theplay of 1 thegame,.. especiallyafter thefirst-ball of a-frame is rolled... it oftens happensthat a. standing", pin walks .or

is knocked or otherwise. displaced off-spot; Oc-- casionally ithappens that sucha pinxoccupies. a position relatively remotefrom its:usual spotted:- position. This condition -gives1-rise-to-. az serious problem in. automatically lifting, and respottingsuch pine By providing: four elongated arms Hi:-

.of suitable length, as. shown-in Figure- 5;. and:'

ten. such sets. of arms. It}; it -is :p;ossible-:to coverza greater area. of the actual playing-neckrof the alley than. has heretofore been.possible and-ac.- curately: grip, lift :and' respot on or offi-spotpins I thereon.

Referring to 1 Figures 1; .which. shows' arms-:; I 8' gripping. a pin, it will be'seen' thatfthe-fourgrip-n per armsJB-of: eachmnitare so mounted on shafts;

\ N that opposite armsare int-the. same horizontal:

plane: This means that theremaining; pairbf;

arms H) are in a parallel ;plane :either abovejom belowthe plane of -the% above mentioned. opposite or opposed. arms.

The planar arrangement of the opposed, pairs of arms i9 allows unobstructed movementof opposite: arms. lDvtOWBrId; each. other; regardlessof whether or not thereis; astanding .pm ztot-be gripped rtherebyu. If a lpin-yissstanding further" .-motionof.-each arm ceaseseassoonas .itengages-a the surface of a standing bowling pin. Mechanism for accomplishing this result will be described hereinafter. If no bowling pin is present, the travel of the opposed arms it continues until their front edges engage whereupon motion ceases.

The arrangement described permits the four arms it of each set to move freely into and out of gripping engagement with the neck of a bowling pin 2 whether it be in on or off-spot position on alley 22. It is obvious that if table I8 is being used for spotting alone, each of the arms ID will assume the substantially uniformly spaced gripping position shown in dotted lines in Figure 5. If the table i8 is being used for respotting also, on-spot bowling pins l2 being lifted for sweeping of the alley and subsequent respotting will be gripped substantially as shown in Figure 5. If some pins remaining standing are in off-spot positions, arms ill will move in accordance with the off-spot positions occupied by such pins. The

provision of four arms is desirable because it makes possible a very firm gripping engagement and a more rigid holding thereby resulting in greater accuracy in spotting or respotting of pins on an alley.

As mentioned hereinabove, each of the several arms It is secured to a torque shaft l4 mounted for rotary movement in table l8. As shown, each arm is secured to the free end of its shaft l4 although, if desired, it could be located along the shaft. The several shafts It are mounted for individual and independent movement in order to move arms In carried thereby into and out of engagement with bowling pins to be gripped for spotting and/or respotting. Since the several shafts are mounted and operated in the same manner, it is considered that the description of the construction of the mechanism for actuating a single shaft will sufiice to cover all of them.

A reference to Figure 6 shows that the upper portion of shaft M which projects upwardly through opening i in cross frame member H is provided with two enlarged parts [9 and 2|. Part I9 is rotatably set in a bearing formed in the lower part of base housing 3|. Enlarged part 2| which is spaced from part 19 is rotatably seated in a bearing formed at the top of base housing 3|. Part 2| (as illustrated in Figure 6) is provided with a suitable seat 23 to which is clamped a flanged portion of casing 33 having a cylindrical skirt extending downwardly over and spaced from base housing 3| in order to allow a spring 36, referred to hereinafter, to be located therebetween. Mounted upon another cylindrical part of casing 38 is a ball bearing 33. A nut 25 threaded on the end of shaft M secures the several parts, just described, in driving or turning relationship. Encircling casing 33 is a spring 34. One end of spring 34 is attachedto casing 38; the other end is secured to the hub 31 of shaft operating arm 39 which is pivotally attached by screw 32 to operating link 40.

Torsion spring 35, which is mounted between casing 38 and base housing 34, is provided with an upwardly projecting end extending into an elongated arcuate slot 35 formed in hub 31. The other end of spring 36 is located in a vertical groove formed in base housing 3|. Mounted on base housing 3| is a pin 29 which extends upwardly into a slot 35 in casing 38.

The thus described torque spring clutch operates as follows: When motor 28 through links 40 and 4| moves all gripper shaft operating arms 3|! in the direction of the arrow (indicated in Figure 6), ihubs 31 of arms 30, which are con-' nected through springs 34 to'casings 38, move the latter in the same direction for about when the travel or movement of each casing 38 is arrested by pin 29 contacting the end of slot 35 in casing 38. At the same time the upward projecting end of spring 36 has reached one end of slot 39 in hub 31 and further travel of the latter, in the same direction, causes spring 36,

which at, its lower end is secured to base housing 3!, to expand and move into frictional engagement with the inner wall of the cylindrical surface of casing 38, thereby effecting a locking of through links 4|] and 4|, causes arms 36 to mov in the opposite direction.

During the operation of table it when pins are to be gripped for spotting or for respotting all of the shafts M are turned simultaneously to -move arms It into engagement with the neck portions of pins to be gripped for spotting or respotting as the case may be. The several shaft operating arms 3i] are connected to links 4:0 (Figure 2). Intermediate links 4|, pivotally connected to projections 52 formed on five of shaft rocking arms 38 assist in the simultaneous operation of all of the arms 3|], of which in the illustrated embodiment there are forty. A link 43 connected to an arm 44 of one of the shaft 45 secured to shaft #16 of the gear reduction system of reversing motor 28. From this it follows that when pins are to be gripped and held by arms It for respotting, shaft AB is driven in one ,direction by reversing motor 28 which effects simultaneous rocking of all of the arms 30 and a concurrent turning of shafts M to move arms is into gripping relationship with bowling pins to be spotted or respotted. At the conclusion of the respotting operation, reversing motor 23 is 45" operated to turn shaft 45 in the opposite direc tion, whereupon all of the gripping arms I0 are separated and the pins which were held thereby are left in on-spot or off-spot positions on the gripping operation is "effected in the removal of ten pins from magazine M (Figure 3) when table i8 is employed for spotting. In this case, gripper arms it are maintained in operative relationship with respect to ....the handle portions of the ten pins held thereby ,release the pins in 'until table 58 has moved into the position shown in full lines in Figure 3 adjacent alley 22 when current through motor 28 is reversed and the several sets of gripper arms in are opened to spotted arrangement on the "alley.

Referring to Figures 2, 3, and 4, it will be seen that table [8 is of generally triangular formation and is mounted for movement to and from the pin supporting section of a bowling alley 22.

Table I8, which is positioned between kickbacks 20, is mounted on arms M which support pivots 65 on which the table may swing in moving from magazin M with a set of pins to a spotting position above alley 22. Each arm 64 is provided with an extension 63. of the extensions 63, is journalled in a suitable bearing of a side frame member 58 secured to the inner wall of its respective alley kickback 29.

Thus, the entire table is pivoted and permitted 1 to swing towards and away from the alley bed.

operating arms 3b is pivotally connected to lever A stud 50, carried by each a The twoiextensions 63soiarms 6i ateai'igidlmcona nected by meanss-rof-ra transverse tubingsor shaft: 51 which iim its scenterz: portion carries fiat motor: bracket to:which-sis;=secured a reversiblesmsotor 48'; whichzeffects :allinecessary movement-either. 5

tablesincident nto 1spottingzandi respotting bowl?- ingupinsr-orraalley 22: Motors-4G drives sa trans= verse shaft :52 supported by suitable b'earingstih extensions-fiiofuarms $4. Toaeach end of shaft 8% toeitsirdwelliipositioniabove theralleyi Since the mecha-nisim-for assemblingsa set ot 'pinsfin'maga e zinez' Mli forms no :specifi'c part t :this invention 1 and' is shown and described" in my 1 above --men'- tionedncopendingu application, Serial No; 16,725; a further showing and description herein: is: deemed unnecessary;'

After a set-lofi pins has been placed on theally infspottedtriangular arrangement'by meansvof a Skis-mounted a gear-54 2\nd.asprocket ifis Wham snitableocontrol; described' hereinafter, table i8 gearsg54-rare driven they will causwtablesia to beli-fted inraaverticali direction away from alley zz througtrzthec meshing: oi gears 1 54 onshaft 52 with gearisectors'i i -rigidly attached to stationaryis;.raised aboveathe alley'clear of the pins-to aheight such? that: it' does not 'anymanner obstruct thesplay' of thef game: If a11pinS-'- are: knocked" down -by I the: first' ball' ot a frame:v and? sideabrackets 58' on kickbacks-- 2B3 Sprockets 56 1 deadwoodrremains upon the:all"ey,-it is then necesaret-tracked by; chains -62 enclosed in arms 84'? 62 run on-driving sprockets 'fiu orr'shatts 61 Xjourna'll'ed' freeends' fall ofiarms 644 Gears fifii on' shafts 8 t 1 mesh with segments 6 B -fiXedly saryrto: ltfti'anyvstandi'ng pins whether in on-01 offi -spot' position :on thevalleyso -thatitloe dead wood can be: swept ir'om the alley and-guttersiby any} suitable means (riotshown) after which Pins 61 projecting from tabi W- engageopenings= 69 n]; each of :the'segments- B8 and act as spacers and' also insure their permanent nomturningre lationship-to table 1& When 1 gears 66 are-'-ro*'- full linesv-in Figure #3 01 to respotting position:

When pins have returned torespotted-on oroff' spot positionsgmotor: 28 is reversed thereby caus ing shafts M to -swing;arms-lt *out otgripping tated-"tlfey cause segmentsfi8 to turn and asa Eirelatioir with the handle portions oi pins held:

ient pads l 6 against back plateiT-ofmagazine -3 M and-while so held; reversing "motor '28-is -oper= ated"to-"cause*shaftsl4-to tum whereuponthe sets of gripper arms Ill-"on-tabl l8-firmly grip anrl'hold the-ten pins inmagazine M; Motor 48 thereby. Motor 38 is then energized to-=ret-urm tab1e'i8 to its intermediate-- ordwell position above the alley-pending delivery of the next ballofthe sameframe. After the -second ball is SOILrolZeii-Q at? deadwoodor'fal-len pins areswept-from alley prior to the-delivery-' oi a newsetof pi'nssthereto,=as in the caseof a strike:

In the operation of the mechanism; after the" fiIStlballhiggthtourh; push" button 1 EN) =is pressed.

This causes the starting'ofa cam'control motor" lliziwhiclt carries on its shaft l 04 acut-out cam I06, a gripper armcontrol cam I UB and *a=table-= control cam-illif Cam ifl6- is employed for the" purpose orsnpplying current 5 from a power'line table 18 cl'earoffmagazine carrying" tentriangulariy arranged'pins which" are hel'ctin' the tens setsiof gripper arms" I 0". Due'to" the -coacti'oniof'sprockets:56; chains 62? sprocketsfifl and;

the latter has been started by push button Hi0; cam l-08 is employed" to control "the runmngtime as wel-l as the direction of turning of the gripper arm actuating motor-28' through a-switch H6 segments :68; table 11 8is swung into'a horizontal 15 x which, depending on the contact ofthehigh spot:

position relativ .tothe bed of. alley 22' so "that when'arms '54 are located inithe positionshown" in fulllines' in*Figure"3', the ten -pins"carried by thegrippers "i Ware deliverediandspotted ir'r :tri-

H8 or=the low 'spoo l20of the-'cam with the" switch; causesmotorifi to' run" either clockwise or counterclockwise;thuseffctirig a closing or an opening'of the gripper arms it ior'grippin'g "or angularplaying-arrangementnnthe playingibecl"mgr-cleansing pins. Cam-|ll8"is also-providedwith ofalley 22.-

Mounted" within each side frame member 55. are counterbalan'cing springs lthaving one end. securedlto 'a' pin .12" andthe 'other'rendattached an intermediate track" I21 which'keeps'iswit'clr H6 a" neutralposition; during which time grippedarms iwremain lockedfineither' open or-closedposition; Cam I Wserves the purpose toan'armlwfixedato'a shaftSBi SpringsFIB-as .ofcontrolling"the*running'time;.as well as the.

sist inthe even and -'balanced"movement:i'of the table l8 to and from magazine 'M and alley"22.' The" side'frame' members 55are secured to1kick= backs 20 by angles 19'; bolts 16} blocks"'I8'and' bolts 80'.

In a two ball.per frame game, for example, table iaperforms the functionxof respottinggpin's. afterthe firstb'alrofa frame is throwmexcepti in'lthe case of a strike. Ifla 'striketis' made,1orrall. pins are knocked down'byp the first'b'allof "air'ameg. alli'fallen' pins on the alley or in' the gnttersarei. swept'into the pit by any suitablemeans' (not. shown), table [8 is'moved by; motor 48: through a suitable control," described hereinafter; to the: dotted'lineposition indicated'l'in Figure 3"a'djalcent'magazine Miwhereiit'receives a new set-of piIlS'ffOl" delivery to' allyi22"(as shown" in' full" lines'inEigure 3).; after which it moves to-spota ting position relative to alley :22; The .pjns'iare';,.

direction of rotation" of table motor 48", which" effectsani ascending as well asva descending; movementmftable'; l8? The'hi'gli spots l22"on';. cam :I It upon'engagementwith switch .I 24 effect 50.,an.upwardmovementoftable l8; while the low spots 12$"cause table itfito'de'scend; Theinter mediateLtrackfltibfeam l H] k'eeps switch .124 a neutral' positionwhich' efiects a dwelling, of" table l8in an'intermedi'ate position above alley 65. 22." Ait'er the completion .0f,the firstiballcycla. bump. l30'0nicam iflGibreakscontact .ll2,'.caus-.

ing,.a stopping of cam control motor, 12,. and readying. the :machine for .the second balli.cyelel After. the-"second .ball. islthrown a. second cycle.

push button! 32 Jis-pressecLL'Ihis causesthestart= ing'ofa cam controlhmoton; 134 which carries..on.. its shaft I36 acut out cam-e l38,'. a gripperarm control cam i401 and i a. table control; cam o I42- cam l38is providedffor the-purpose oisupplying,

releasedzby gripper armsluland tablelfl moves Wcurrenti'r'om-tlie powervlinel I flith'rougha con-:-

tact I44 to motor I34 after the latter has been started by push button I32. Cam I40 is provided for controlling the running time as well as the direction of rotation of the reversible gripper arm actuating motor 28 during the second ball cycle through a switch I46. The latter upon contacting the low spot M8 of cam Mil effects a closing of gripper arms it when removing pins from magazine M, and the high spot I59 effects the opening of the grippers when spotting a new set of pins on the alley. The intermediate track I52 of cam I40 keeps switch I 46 in a neutral position which effects the locking of the gripper arms in either closed or open position. Cam I42 is used for the purpose of controlling the running time as well as the direction of the table control motor 48 which effects the upward as well as downward movement of table i 8. The high spots I54 on cam I42 upon engagement with switch I56 effect an upward movement of table I8; the low spot I58 effects a downward movement of the same from the magazine M to alley bed 22 during pin delivery in the second ball cycle. The intermediate tracks 4 6!) effect a dwell of table I8 in its intermediate position, during the second ball cycle. A bump It! on cam I 38 is provided to stop motor I34 at the end of the second ball cycle.

In case a player rolls a strike he then presses the second ball cycle button I32 which, as described heretofore, would effect a setting of a new set of pins on the alley.

Occasionally it is desirable for a player to know which pins remain standing after the first ball of a frame has been rolled. In order to inform him which pins remain standing under such conditions, each of two diagonally opposed shafts I4, of each set of four shafts I4 which comprise a spotting-respotting unit, is provided with a normally closed switch II connected in a suitable parallel circuit. Three parallel circuits, each including its own lamp 90, are shown in Fig. 2. When the two opposed arms I carried by the shafts I4 provided with switches 1I move to pin engaging position and do not engage a pin, both switches H are opened. As a result, the parallel circuit for this unit is broken and its lamp 9B is extinguished, thus indicating that this particular pin has been knocked down or has fallen. The operation of all of the other sets of four arms is the same so that the player has an exact picture of which pins have been knocked down or have fallen because when any pins are standing, the lights corresponding to their positions remain lighted. There are ten lamps 90 arranged in triangular formation in order to designate the presence or absence of pins occupying corresponding positions on the alley bed.

As illustrated in Fig. 6, each switch H is provided with an operating button i3 adapted to project into a groove formed in the casing 38 with which the switch is associated. The grooves in casings 38 are of such length that so long as a pin remains standing, at least one switch button I3 of one of the two switches II will not be depressed to open the corresponding branch of the parallel circuit. If there is no pin standing at any one spotting position, the arms It of the two sets of arms at that position will move into engagement with each other, in which case the operation of casings 38 will be such as to open both switches l'I thereby breaking the parallel circuit including such switches to show the absen'ce of a pin. By means of this structure, if for any reason a pin is so far off-spot that one arm I 0 of the pair of arms provided with switches cannot engage it, regardless of the fact that the other arm ll] of this pair of arms and both arms of the other pair of arms I ll engage and grip such pin, only one switch II of the two switches provided can be operated. In the circuit shown in Fig. 2, the circuit through lamp til remains closed and it is evident that the pin remains standing. A suitable visible signal or annunciator, not shown, having the ten lamps 9e arranged in a conventional triangular pin spotting arrangement, can be employed. 7 This device can be of the general type shown in Patterson and Rundell Patent 2338,7313.

The invention above described may be varied in construction within the scope of the claims because the particular embodiment, selected to illustrate the invention, is but one of several possible concrete forms of the same. The invention is not, therefore, to be restricted to the precise details of the structure shown and described.

What I claim is:

l. A device for use in a bowling pin spotting machine for spotting and respotting bowling pins on the playing bed of a bowling alley, comprising a pin magazine, supports mounting said magazine in fixed position in said machine, a frame, means mounting frame for swinging movement to and from said pin magazine and said playing bed of said alley, a plurality of pin grippers carried by said frame, means mounting said grippers in substantially triangular pin spotting arrangement on said frame, operating mechanism including means for moving said frame to locate said grippers in pin receiving position adjacent said magazine, means for actuating said grippers to grip the handle ends of pins in said magazine, said operating mechanism including means for moving said frame away from said magazine to remove pins held by said grippers out of said magazine and substantially simultaneously turning said frame to dispose said gripped pins in position for delivery to said alley bed, and means operative after pins have been spotted or respotted on said alley bed for moving said frame upwardly to a dwell position above said alley bed; control means for performing a first cycle of sequential operations of said moving and actuating means to move said frame into pin receiving position adjacent said magazine, to operate said grippers to grip pins in said magazine while said frame is positioned adjacent thereto, to move said frame away from said magazine and withdraw pins held by said grippers therefrom and to substantially simultaneously turn said frame and locate pins held by said grippers in position for placement on said alley bed, and to operate said grippers to release pins held in said grippers in spotted playing arrangement on said alley bed, and then to move said frame to a dwell position above said alley bed, and control means for performing a second cycle of sequential operations of said frame moving means and said actuating means to move said frame from said dwell position into a pin gripping position above said alley bed and to operate said grippers to grip standing pins, to move said frame and lift said standing pins held by said grippers above said alley for removal of fallen pins from said alley and to again move said frame downwardly to respot said lifted pins and operate said gripper operating means to release said pins in respotted position and return said frame alley.

to said dwell position'above said zprzaeao 2. diwbowlmgfpin spotting device comprising-ta framaiia plurality "of sets of grippersmonnted on :the underside ofsaid frame, means mounting said frame for swinging movement between a pin magazine adapted to hold a set of bowling pins in triangular arrangement and the playing bed of an alley, means for locating said frame with-said sets of grippers in position to grip said pins'in said magazine, means for operating said grippers to grip said pins, means for moving said frame with a set of pins held by said zgrippers away from said magazine to withdraw said pins therefrom, means for swinging said frame through substantially ninety degrees and positioning :the frame with the bases of said pins adjaoentsaid playing bed of said alley for placement thereon, and means for operating said g ippers torelease said pins in playing position on said valley.

3. In a bowling pin spotting device, a frame adapted to be moved to and from a bowling :alley for spotting and respotting bowling pins inplaying t'arrangement thereon, a plurality of sets of pin grippers mounted on the underside of said frame, each of said sets including -a plurality of pairs of opposed individually movable gripping :arms, .means mounting said pairs of arms in spaced parallel planes, whereby the arms of one pairof ,arms engage opposite sides of the handle end of -a bowling pin and the arms of another pair engage opposite sides of the handle end of said bowling pm at portions substantially at nimetydegrees from the portions of said pin engaged by said first-named pair of arms, yieldable operating mechanism for moving each arm to pin engaging position, whereby said arm may rest substantially without movement against a pinheldagainst movemenhsupport arms mounting said .-frame, a pin magazine, means in said magazine .-for supporting a plurality of pins in substantially horizontal (planes and positioned to heengaged by said grippers, means for moving ,said support arms to move said frame between said pin magazine and said alley, means cooperating with said last-named means for turning said frame to position said grippers in pin receiving position adjacent said magazine, or in pin releasing position adjacentsaid alley, and means for operating said grippers to .grip said ,pins to be removed from said magazine and to be placed on said alley.

4. A bowling .pin spotting and respotting device for spotting and respotting bowling pins on the playing surface of .a bowling alley comprisinga frame, triangu'larly arranged ,pin holding units mounted on said frame, a stationary pin magazine mounted in a plane substantially at right angles with the plane of said bowling alley, pin supports in said magazineadapted 'to support a predetermined number of pins having their longitudinal axes lying in substantially parallel planes and with said pins positioned to be gripped and removed from said magazine, mechanism for moving said frame through substantially .ninety degrees to and from said magazine and said surface of said alley and substantially simultaneously turning said frame to dispose the gripped pins in position for spottingon said surface of said alley including a reversing motor, and means responsive to the movement of said frame into pin receiving position adjacent said magazine for operating said pin holders to grip pins to be "spotted, and means responsive to the positioning of said frame adjacent said surface for operating said -holders 12 when they are positioned adjacent said surface to release pins to be spottedaor respotted on said surface.

5. A bowling pinzspotting and respot-ting device for spotting and respotting bowling pins on the playing bed of a bowling alley comprising a frame, supporting arms mounting said frame for movement to and from said bed of said alley, a plurality of sets of bowling pin gripping arms carried by said frame, a stationary pin magazine supported in a planesubstantially at right angles to the plane of saidalley,supports insaid magazine adapted to support a predetermined number of pins with their longitudinal axes lying sin substantially parallel planes and with said pins positioned to be gripped, mechanism for moving said frame through an angular path of substantially ninety degrees -to and from said magazine for spotting bowling 'pinsonsa-id bed, said mechanism including a reversing motor, :iixed gear segments and gears meshing with said segments, said mechanism including means *driven by said motor controlling the movement of said frame along said angular path relative -to said. maga zine and the bed of said alley and substantially simultaneously turning said frame to dispose said gripped pinsin position for spotting on said ,bed of said alley, means responsive to the movement of said frame into pin receiving position for-operating said sets of gripping arms when adjacent said magazine to grip pins to he spotted, and means operative in response to the positioning of said frame adjacent the bed of said bowling alley when said sets of gripping arms are ,positioned adjacent said alley bed to operate said gripping arms to release pins to .be spotted on said bed of said alley, and mechanism for counterbalancing said frame for uniform movement to and from said magazine and the bed of said alley.

'6. A bowling .pin spotting device comprising .a frame, a plurality of sets of grippers .mounted on-the underside of said frame, a pin magazine, means in said magazine for supporting -.a .plurality of pins in positions to be gripped by said grippers, means mounting said frame for swinging movement between said pin magazine and the playing bed of an alley, mechanism forswinging ,and simultaneously turning said frame to locate said grippers adjacent said magazine in a plane substantially ninety degrees to the plane of operation of said grippersin spotting and respotting :pins on said bed of the alley, means responsive to the movement of said frame into pin receiving position adjacent said magazine for operating said grippers to grip said pins in said magazine, means for moving said frame away from said magazine and positioning said frame in pin spotting position in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of said alley bed, means responsive to the positioning of said frame adjacent said alley bed for operating said grippers to release pins held thereby to spot said pins removed fromsaid magazine on said bed.

7. A bowling pin spotting and respotting device for spotting and respotting bowling pins on the playing bed of an alley comprising a frame, triangularly arranged pin holders mounted on said frame and constructed and'arrangedto spot pins in oil-spot position and also to respot pins in on and off-spot positions on said bed, a-stationary substantially vertically positioned pin magazine having means for supporting .a pinrality of substantially triangular-ized .pins with the handle ends of said ,pins positioned to be engaged by said holders, and operating mechanism including means for moving said frame to a pin receiving station adjacent said magazine to engage said holders with said handle ends of said pins in said magazine, means for operating said holders to grip said handle ends of said positioned pins, said operating mechanism including means for moving said frame with said pins held by said holders away from said station to remove said pins from said magazine and substantially simultaneously turning said frame to position said frame in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of said bed and adjacent thereto, and means for operating said holders to release pins and spot said pins on said bed.

8. The invention defined in claim '7 wherein said operating mechanism includes means operative in response to the release of said pins from said holders in spotted arrangement on said alley bed for moving said frame to a dwell position above said alley bed, and selective control means for sequentially operating said frame moving and holder operating means to move said frame downwardly to spotting position adjacent said alley bed, to operate said holders to grip on or offspot standing pins and to then move said frame and said gripped pins upwardly to said dwell position whereby said bed may be cleared of standing pins, and to then move said frame to said spotting position and to operate said holder op erating means to release said pins from said.

holders in respotted position on said alley, and then to move said frame to said dwell position.

9. The invention defined in claim 8 wherein each of said holders comprises a set of individual- 1y operated opposed pin gripping arms, a normally closed switch for each of two opposed arms of said set of arms, a parallel circuit connecting said switches, a lamp in said circuit, and means operative in response to the movement of said lastnamed arms beyond positions where they normally engage a standing on-spot pin for opening said switches thereby breaking said circuit and extinguishing said lamp.

WILLIS L. WELL-S.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,297,951 Wheeler Mar. 18, 1919 1,449,012 Lorenz et a1 Mar. 20, 1923 2,231,842 Rundell Feb. 11, 1941 2,283,613 Schmidt May 19, 1942 2,283,614 Schmidt May 19,1942 2,300,802 Parra et al Nov. 3, 1942 2,316,183 Patterson Apr. 13, 1943 2,338,733 Patterson et a1 Jan. 11, 1944 2,341,475 Parra et al. Feb. 8, 1944 2,388,708 Bates Nov. 13, 1945 2,518,457 Fretter Aug. 15, 1950 2,580,853 Sherman Jan. 1, 1952 

